Coupler for railway cars



Nov. 20,1923. 1,475,127

T. P. M COLLISTER COUPLER FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed June 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 MC a mvzwrota ATTORN EV V wrrNEssiE T. P, M coLusTER COUPLER FOR RAILWAY CARS Nov. 20, 1923.

Filed June 26, 1922' 2 sheets sheet z TOR A'ITORNEY Patented Nov. 20, I923.

THURMAN P. MGQOLLISTER, OF SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO.

coornnn roe RAILWAY cans.

Application filed June 26, 1922. Serial No. 570,791.

To all whom it may concern."

- Be it known that I, THURMAN P. MoCoL- LISTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Silver City, in the county of Grant and State of New Mexico, have invented'new and useful Improvements in Couplers for Railway Cars, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention contemplates the provision of an automatic air brake coupling for railway cars, and provides a construction'whereby the air lines are automatically coupled incident to the coupling of the cars, providing a leak proof connection between the air lines, thereby eliminating the necessity of train-men going between th cars, endangering their lives for the purpose of coupling the air brake system.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the essential features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View of the male member associated with one of the air lines.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the female member associated with the air line.

Figure 5 is a perspective view partly in section of one of the ferrules and its gasket.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing the elbow connection between the air line and the adjacent hose. 7

Referring to the drawings in detail, A and B indicate the adjacent ends of two cars which are connected together by draw bars 10 and 11 respectively, which may be of any suitable construction and design. In accordance with the present invention, each draw bar is formed at its opposite sides with wings or extensions 12 and each extension has an opening 13 to slidably receive one section of an air line or pipe as shown. The sections of the air line or pipe at one side of the draw .bar are indicated at 1e and 15 respectively, and the sections of the pipe at the other sides of the draw bars are indicated at 16 and 17 respectively. Each section ofpipe is joined or coupled to a hose 18 through the instrumentality of an elbow 19, these elbows being connected with the outer ends of the pipe sections and formed with a flange or collar 20 to prevent the pipe sections from being separated from the extensions 12 under any circumstance. Two of the hose sections indicated at 18 are suitably coupled together and also coupled to a main air line 21, and the latter, and also the hose sections just referred to are equipped with valves 22 so that communication between the main air line and either or both of the hose sections may be cut off when desired.

Carried by the inner extremity of each pipe section 14 and 16 respectively are male members 23 of conical formation, and these members are preferably threaded upon the pipe sections as clearly illustrated. Threaded-upon the corresponding inner extremities of the pipe sections 15 and 17 respectively, are female members 24 designed to receive the male members 23 above referred to. Surrounding the respective pipe sections are coiled springs 25 which bear against the male and female members, and also against the extensions or wings 12 to hold the pipe sections operatively associated as will be readily understood.

Received by each male and female member is a ferrule 26, which has its body portion arranged in spaced relation with the inner surface of the adjacent male or fe male member as the case may be. Interposed between the body portion of these ferrules, and the male and female members respectively, are gaskets 27 and these gaskets are arranged to be brought into end to end contact incident to the coupling of the pipe sections, and thereby providing a fluid proof connection between said parts. Each gasket 27 includes parallel inclined surfaces 28 and 29 respectively, the former being received by a groove 30 of substantially V-shaped formation in cross section, this groove being formed in either. the male or female member with which the gasket is associated. The other inclined surface 29 of the gasket is wedged against the bevelled face 31 of the ferrule, and in this. manner, the gasket is effectively held in position, or associated with the respective pipe sections for the purpose stated. Manifestly, I have provided a construction of means whereby the air lines of railway cars can be automatically coupled incident to the coupling of the cars, in a quick and effective manner, doing away with the necessity of brakernen going between the cars for this purpose, which frequently results in injury and sometimes loss of life.

IVhile it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the'invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is hereinshown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed. What I claim is An automatic air brake coupling for railway cars comprising pipe sections slidably supported by the car couplers, a funne1- shaped female member carried by one section of each pipe, a conicalshaped male member carried the other section of each pipe and adapted to be received by the female member, coiled springs surrounding said pipe sections for holding said members operatively associated, a hose section coupled to each pipe section, a main air line communicating with said hose sections, a fer rule for each of said male and female members, said ferrules being arranged at the ends of said pipe sections and in part spaced from said members, and a gasket clamped between each member and the adjacent ferrule, said gaskets being arranged to provide a fluid tight connection between the pipe sections as'described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

THURMAN P. MQCOLLISTER. 

